Two years ago we launched a trust-wide approach to making sure that our young people have the reading skills to be able to access the curriculum. Too many students in our secondary schools were not reading at an age-appropriate level. We knew how limiting this would be for them and resolved to support those with the biggest gaps to catch up.
Thinking Reading is a 1:1 intervention programme specifically designed for secondary-age pupils who, for one reason or another, have not yet learned to read fluently and accurately. Three of our secondary schools were already using the scheme and reported positive impact data. We recruited the first wave of Reading Mentors in summer 2021 to work in our secondary schools and deliver the programme to pupils who were in some cases more than 5 years behind. Since then we’ve expanded the programme to be able to reach a wider cohort of pupils and have supported them to improve their reading skills so that they can read fluently and accurately.
Training
Thinking Reading is a fast-paced, intensive programme and the training is in-depth and rigorous to ensure that Reading Mentors are both confident and competent in their delivery of the programme. The first round of training starts with a comprehensive introduction to reading: how we learn to read, why reading problems exist and a discussion on some of the myths about the causes of poor reading. The bulk of the time is spent practising the assessment of individual students’ reading and learning to analyse the results. There’s a deliberate gap between the first round of training and the second to allow Reading Mentors to practise what they have learned. The second round of training focusses on lesson delivery. Lessons are bespoke to each student’s individual learning history and must be planned carefully to build on prior learning.
"All pupils read regularly in school and teachers are trained in how to help pupils to read in their subjects. Pupils’ reading is successfully enhanced as a result."
- Wayland Academy Ofsted, 2023
A day in the life of a Reading Mentor
A Reading Mentor will have 12-16 students on their books at any one time. Each student has three 30-minute lessons across the week and it takes about 15 minutes to prepare each one. In a typical day, a Reading Mentor will spend an hour preparing the morning’s lessons and then see 4 students back to back, with a short break between the first two. After a half hour lunch break, the Reading Mentor has half an hour to prepare the remaining two lessons of the day. In the last hour of the day, the Reading Mentor assesses a student new to the school who has been referred for assessment. The Reading Mentor finishes the day by emailing the teachers of the students they have taught that day to fill them in on the progress made by the students and the current areas of focus.
"Supporting pupils who struggle with reading is a high priority. The school quickly identifies the specific barriers to reading. Expert teachers put help in place to support pupils. This helps pupils to catch up swiftly in developing their reading knowledge. Consequently, they rapidly become confident and fluent readers."
- Hewett Academy Ofsted, 2023
Want to be a Reading Mentor?
Are you passionate about reading and keen to make a real difference?
We’re looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team as Reading Mentors. In this rewarding role, you’ll help inspire and support young readers—building their confidence, unlocking their potential, and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.
If you have an eye for detail, strong multitasking skills, and the warmth and patience to bring out the best in students, we’d love to hear from you. Experience as a Teaching Assistant or working with secondary-age pupils—whether in a teaching, tutoring, or coaching capacity—would put you in a strong position to succeed.
Reading Mentors work independently for much of the time, so you’ll need to be confident, organised, and proactive—especially when planning and delivering lessons. The ability to quickly build positive, professional relationships with young people is essential, as many students referred to the programme may have struggled with reading for years and may feel disengaged or discouraged.
We’re particularly keen to build a diverse and inclusive team—one that adds in rather than simply fits in. If you believe you can bring something valuable to our community, we want to hear from you.
To find out more or to express your interest, please contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@inspirationtrust.org.